Henry J. Baker

HENRY J. BAKER, 84, of Sioux Center, Iowa died Monday, December 19, 2005at Royale Meadows Care Center in Sioux Center.

A prayer service will be conducted at 11:00am Wednesday, December 21, 2005 at Memorial Funeral Home with Reverend Roger Voskuil officiating with a graveside committal service to follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.

Visitation will be held at Memorial Funeral Home Tuesday, December 20, 2005 from 4pm to 8pm with family present 7 to 8pm.

A Memorial Service is planned for Saturday, January 14, 2006 at the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center at 10:30am with Rev. Roger Voskuil officiating.

Henry John Baker was born on a farm one mile west of Doon, Iowa to Jacob and Minnie (Schilt) Baker on August 27, 1921, the oldest of four children; a brother, Marion Mike and two sisters, Marguerite and Annabelle. Henry attended five country schools and graduated from 8th grade in 1934. In 1938, he graduated from Alton High School, Alton, Iowa. Henry enlisted in the US Navy in December 1942. He then was stationed on board USS PC465 for three years. He was discharged in January 1946. He married Bernice Henrietta Kroon on June 21, 1946 at her mothers home. To this union three children were born: Herlon Jay, Larry Dean and Sally Ann. Bernice died on January 1, 2001 of cancer after 54 years of marriage. After he was discharged from the service Henry worked for Wandscheer Manufacturing Co., Ver Hoef Chevrolet, Silent Sioux Manufacturing Co. then for the City of Sioux Center as waste water plant operator for 26 years, retiring in 1993. Henry was an avid reader and enjoyed gardening and growing flowers.

Henry is survived by his second wife, Alice Koener-Baker of Sioux Center whom is married October 25, 2003. And by three children and their spouses, Herlon and Margene Baker of Sioux Center, Larry and Rebecca Baker of Canby, Oregon and Sally and Michael Dieltz of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; six grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Henry is also survived by two sisters and brothers-in-law: Marguerite and Rev. William Kroon of Hampton, IA and Annabelle and Leland Rensink of Boyden, IA; one sister-in-law, Wilma Baker of Sioux Center along with several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his first wife, Bernice, Henry was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Marion Mike Baker.